Huntsville, Ala. - U.S. Representative Bud Cramer (D-Ala.) joined officials from the Marshall Space Flight Center and the U.S. Space and Rocket Center today for the groundbreaking of the Education Training Facility.  Representative Cramer played a key role in securing $3 million for the training facility in FY 2002.

"I'm very excited about this Education Training Facility," said Cramer.  "I know first hand the importance of having a strong educational foundation for our children.  This facility will enable teachers from North Alabama and across our country to learn new strategies and techniques to better teach science, technology, and math to our children."

Additionally, Cramer secured $250,000 to help equip the inside of the facility in the FY 2005 VA-HUD and Independent Agencies Appropriations Bill, which was approved by the Appropriations Committee last week.  Cramer is a member of the Appropriations Committee.  Cramer said, "This funding still must be approved by the full House and Senate, but I will continue to work with the rest of the Alabama delegation for this facility."

The Education Training Facility is a joint project of the U.S. Space and Rocket Center and NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center.  The facility will be used for instructing teachers and for holding NASA seminars and training sessions.  "I'm pleased that Marshall and the Space and Rocket Center are continuing their strong partnership to build and operate this facility together.  This facility will go a long way to meet the needs of both Marshall and the Space and Rocket Center as well as help inspire the next generation of scientist and engineers," added Cramer.